My So-Called ‘Trep Life

Welcome to my so-called ‘trep life. Okay, I making a reference to what was an amazing, but short-lived show of the 90s in order to share what it’s like to be an entrepreneur with all the Career Girls out there. I’ll admit that I was so one of those 14-year-old girls writing letters to ABC to keep My So-Called Life on the air in order to find out what happened with Jordan Catalano. But what I love, and still love, most about that show is the journey of self-discovery.

In my opinion, there was and will always be an Angela Chase in all of us. The character that a teenage Claire Danes so brilliantly played was constantly trying to find out who she was, where she fit in, and where her life was going. We all experience this as we are growing up, but I believe this journey of figuring out our purpose in life does not stop when we leave the confines of high school or even college. For me, life is about constant learning and experience. Yes, the cliches are true: You only live once and the journey is truly the reward.

That is why I decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. With the invaluable support of my husband and family, I am pursuing an opportunity that not only allows me to seek the purpose of my own life, but one that I hope also provides other women with the inspiration and the opportunities to get out there and say Why Not! to life’s adventures.

As I was approaching my 30th birthday, I was feeling compelled to evaluate what made me happy and proud of who I had become. I began to realize that it was not material things or the prominent title at work, but the mulitude of life experiences that I had been so fortunate to have. I wanted to share that attitude with other women.

So, I recently left my digital marketing job at a Fortune 100 company to start Why Not Girl!, a website that serves to empower women to try something new. It is a place for all women to share not only how we say Why Not! in dealing with life’s major milestones, but also the everyday adventures we take part in without blinking an eye. It is a place to celebrate the beauty of living life.

Like everything, it is a work in progress. To be honest, there are days when I feel like I can take on the world and truly be the Why Not Girl! I wish to promote. But there are other days when I get up and wonder if this was the best move for me, Chris, and our new married life together. I’m still trying to figure out where to take Why Not Girl! while also trying to absorb as much information about business development, market research, networking, and — of course — how to make a living. Plus, I’ve got to continue posting the Why Not! stories that I look forward to sharing with all of you Career Girls here on Career Girl Network.

Although sometimes I do feel like I’m a one-woman show in a very scary, but exciting world, I look forward to continuing the conversation with you by giving you a peek into my newfound life while also hearing from you along the way. Please feel free to share your own entrepreneurial experiences as well as advice that you have for me and all the Career Girls out there trying to break out on their own.

And for those of you who have never seen My So-Called Life, please go ahead and rent the entire season on Netflix. It’s a perfect way to spend a cold winter weekend. Your inner Angela (and Why Not Girl!) will thank me for it.

About the Author

Lauren McCabe Herpich

Lauren's life has definitely consisted of a series of adventures, or as she would like to call them: Why Nots! She recently left her digital marketing position at a Fortune 100 company to take the risk of entrepreneurship and start Why Not Girl!, a website empowering women to try new things, live life as an adventure and say Why Not! Lauren holds a Masters of Integrated Marketing Communication from Northwestern University's Medill School and Bachelors in Journalism and Media Arts from the University of Arizona. You can get inspired to say Why Not! in your own life by visiting Why Not Girl! at www.whynotgirl.com.